Grid glow timer motor control



Jan. 21 1947.

L. PIERCE 2,414,553 I GRID GLOW TIMER MOTOR CQNTROL Filed July 20, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fly).

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Jan. 21, 1947. L, PERCE 2,414,553

GRID GLOW TIMER MOTOR CONTROL Filed July 20, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fly. 4.

1 72226 -Secozzas N w 4s WITNESSES: INVENTOR {4 if lazurezzcefirce BY 02.441!) ATTORNEY cheap electronic Patented Jan. 2]. 1947 UNITED. STATES PATENT I OFFICE GRID GLOW TIMER MOTOR CONTROL Lawrence Pierce, Edgewood, Pa.,

assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa,

a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 20, 1943, Serial No. 495,465

4 Claims. (Cl. 172-289) pensive and cumbersome.

One object of my invention is the provision of discharge mean coacting with mean controlled by the discharge means for effecting time limit control for electric devices.

Another broad object is the provision of an electronic starting control for capacitor motors.

A somewhat more specific object or my invention is the provision of a starting control for capacitor motors that include a simple, inexpensive and small electronic device in combination with suitable electromagnetic means.

A more specific object of my invention'is the provision of electronic time limit means i'orcontrolling switching means that control the starting or electric motors. v

A still further object of my invention is the provision oi. cheap electronic means for starting alternating current motors.

The objects herelnbefore recited are merely illustrative since other broader and also more specific obiects and advantages of my invention will become more apparent from a. study of the following specification and claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic showing of my invention as applied to the starting of an altermating-current induction motor;

Figs. 2 and 3 show two modifications of my invention as applied to start capacitor motors;

Fig. 4 is a furthermodification of'my, invention; and

Flg. 5 illustrates by means of a curve the time limit control I can obtain with my starting control For one type of altemating-current time limit control now on the regular market, a special type of circuit breaker is used. This device requires a built-in relay and a transformer. The result is that the cost is high. the plicated, and the panel space required is large. For this particular application of alternating current starting control, mydevice costs about half as much, is considerably simpler, and takes about one-fourth the panel-board space.

arrangement is comwith reference to another general purpose altemating-current time limit starting control, my scheme is about one-ninth the cost, takes about 'one-fourththe panelboard space, and is simpler in structure and operation. 7

In Fig." 1, M designates an induction motor that is to be gradually brought up to speed. The contactor 5 is the usual line contactor used for such motors, and when operated, energizes the motor M through the starting resistors I4, I 5, and it comprising the starting connections for the mothat the l circuit connections for the ing cycle.

tor M.

The element I9 is a small electronic discharge tube comprising a vitreous envelope or the like and including in the envelope a gaseous environment such a neon, argon, or similar ionizable medium. The particular tube shown in Fig. 1 has three spaced electrodes. To one of the electrodes I connect a bimetal element 24 which when heated to a given contact with the third electrode to complete a circuit. Between the one electrode and the second electrode I provide a heating filament. A reiiector directs the heat against the bimetal. For any selected voltage applied to the filament, the heating rate of the filament is given function so bimetal makes contact withthe third electrode after a selected time. When this time expires, an electric relay or contactor is energized, and the efl'ect of the starting resistors l4, l5, and it are eliminated, and the motor M is connected to the supply through its running connections.

A still better understanding can probably be had from a study of a sequence of a typical start- To start the motor M, the attendant operates pushbutton switch 3, whereupon a circuit is established from bus I through conductor 2, switch 3, the actuating coil 4 of contactor 5, stop switch 6 to the bus 1. Operation of the contactor 5 closes the contact members 9, III, II, and I2. The closure of contact member l2 establishes a holding circuit for the coil 4 to thus maintain contactor 5 in the operated position. Closure oi contact members 9, l0, and I l connects the buses I, I3, and I to the motor M through the starting resistors l4, l5, and IE or starting motor M. Another circuit is established from ductor l'l, filament l8 of the contact members-2|, adjustable resistor 22, and conductor 23 to the source of supply. The filament I8 is thus heated, and the rate of heat being adjusted by the resistor 22 causes the bimetallic member 24 to bend upwardly at the lower end and in a predetermined time close the relatively high temperature, makes busl through conelectronic device l9.

contacts 25 and 26, whereupon a circuit is established from the energized conductor l'l through the bimetallic element 24, contacts 25 and 26, coil 21 of the starting control relay to the energized conductor 23. This relay thus operates, closing contact members 28, 29. 30, and 3|. Closure of contact members 28 and 29 provide a holding circuit for the 001121 independent of the electronic device l9, whereas the closure of contact members 29, 30, and 3! connects the motor M through the running connection through the source of supply. Contact members 2| are opened to disconnect the electronic device It from the source Of supply. In Fig. 2, the line contactor is similar to the line contactor shown in Fig. l, and when it is caused to operate, a circuit is established from th energized conductor 5! through conductor 53, contact members 54. the adjustable resistor 50, electrode 5|, electrode 52 to the conductor 50. The electronic device 53 is of the glow type, and the voltage across the electrodes is so adjusted by the resistor 60 that it-will be sufficient to break down and cause a glow discharge current to flow, and yet the current is kept small enough so that a maximum time of operation may be obtained from the electronic device 63.

As here shown, the time adjustment for the electronic device appears to be aflected only by the adjustable resistor 50. There are, however, several other methods by which the time constant of this type of device may be adjusted. For instance, the spacing of the electrodes 5| and 52 may be changed in the manufacture of the device, or the electrode may be shielded to decrease the dissipation of the heat from the bimetallic member to thus increase the time the electrodes, namely, the contacts 6i and 62, remain open.

Time may also be changed by suitable selection of. the gaseous medium within the chamber of the electronic device. The electrodes are of the highly polished type, they radiate heat more slowly, and, therefore, change the time of operation of the device.

When the line contactor shown in Fig. 2 is first closed, not only is the electronic device 53 energized, but also the motor 59. The main winding 52 is energized directly from buses 50 and 5!,

- and the auxiliary winding 58 is energized by a circuit that may be traced from the energized conductor 53 through contact members 54 and 55, the reactor 55 and capacitor 51, winding 58, to the conductor 50. As the glow discharge current heats the *bimetal 62 constituting one of the elect'rodes, the contacts 5| and 62 may contact with each other after a predetermined time, whereupon a direct connection is established, and a much higher current is caused to flow through the circuit which now actuates the coil 4| of the relay 42 to close the contact members 43 and 44 and open the contact members 54 and 55. Contact members 44 change the motor connection from the starting connection, which includes one portion of the reactor 55 to a running connection that includes another portion of the reactor 55,

.the capacitor 51 in each case remaining in the circuit.

Closure of contact member 43 shunts the electrodes to thus eliminate the electronic device from the source of supply.

In Fig. 3, the arrangement is somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 2 except that in this case the capacitor motor utilizes a pair of capacitors 45 and 46, both of which are in the circuit during the starting cycle, whereas during the running circuit connection for the motor, capacitor 45 is eliminated from the circuit by the opening oi. the contact members 41 on the relay 48. Resistor 80' functions similarly to resistor 60 in Fig. 2. I

The showing in Fig. 4 is somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 3 except that the starting con trolis provided for an induction motor, such as is shown in Fig. 1. a

In Fig. 5 the curve 80 shows the variation in time with variations in glow discharge currents of an electronic device, as 53. It will be noted that as the glow discharge current is increased, the time of operation decreases. It will also be noted that for a predetermined decrease in the current, the time becomes greater and greater. There is, however, a definit limitation to this type of electronic device, since if an attempt is made to decrease the current in the glow discharge device below a predetermined value by an adjustment of the resistor in series with the electrode or some. other means, the glow discharge will not flow, and, in consequence, the current immediately drops to zero and, theoretically as well as practically, an infinite time would be required to cause the relay to operate, that is, it will not operate.

The embodiment and several modifications of 1. In a starting control for an electric motor,

in combination, a motor having starting circuit connections and running circuit connections,-

electronic discharge means, electric potential supply means, switching means for connecting.

said motor through the starting circuit arrangement to said supply means and for connecting said discharge means to the supply meansysaid discharge meanshaving a pair of spaced electrodes disposed'in an lonizable gaseous medium and between which a glow discharge current occurs upon connection of said dischar e means to said supply means, said electrodes having the characteristic of making contact with each other after the discharge current flows between the electrodes for a given. time, electromagnetic switching means including an operating coil, circuit means connecting said operating coil with said electrodes such that said operating coil carries current of the glow discharge, which current is insuflicient in amount to effect operation of said electromagnetic switching means, said circuit means being effective upon contacting of said ranged for changing the connection of said motor to the supply means from the starting circuit connection to the running circuit connection, and means forming a part of said second switching means for deenergizing said electrodes upon operation of said second switching means.

2. In a system of control, in combination, an electric load unit having a starting circuit, rrangement and a runningcircuit arrangement, electronic discharge means having spaced electrodes disposed in an ionizable gaseous medium and between which a glow discharge current occurs upon application of a potential to said -electrodes to thus heat the electrodes in excess of the heat dissipation from the electrodes, said electrodes having the characteristic to contact .each otherupon being heated, after a certain time, to a given temperature, switching means having an operativeand an inoperative position, tion of said switching means in its operative position be.- through said running connections, and means means is in its inoperative position. motor. to said source 01 potential through said 3. In a starting control for an electric motor, a starting connection. a glow discharge tube consource of electric potential, a motor, starting containing an ionizable gaseous medium and'having tion of an electrical potential thereto for producperature, circuit means operable in conjunction ing a. rise in temperature in said tube, one of said with said switching mean for applying an eleceiectrodes being temperature responsive and betrical potential to said electrodes whereupon said trode upon being heated to a given temperature, 2:; given time after connection of said motor to said said electrical potential whereupon said electrodes 30 the glow discharge, which current is insumcient-in cult means connecting said operating coil with 35 eration of said electromagnetic switching means,

gize said operating coil to effect operation or said producing a glow discharge inoperative upon op- 

